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We are developing long-range solar electric vehicles. The architecture of the vehicle is based on our holistic design philosophy. Efficiency is at the heart, whether it is our powertrain, our thermal management system or our solar roof design. In order to deliver a convenient user experience, we also develop the software architecture and user interface of the vehicle. Our approach is unique, we protect our developments by patents.

Strategy
Careers

Lightyear

Key
‍Team members

To achieve our mission we work with over 120 dedicated people as a balanced team with both seasoned professionals and talented, young, high performing innovators.

Join our team

Founded first Solar Team Eindhoven in 2012

Lex Hoefsloot

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) — Co-founder

Developed core IP on Distributed-MPPT for most efficient solar array. Former team member of Solar Team Eindhoven

Arjo van der Ham

Chief Technology Officer (CTO) — Co-founder

Previous CFO Fatboy & EldoLED. Certified Public Auditor (Dutch Registeraccountant)

Laurens Weers

Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Automotive product development specialist. Former Inalfa Roof Systems, Punch Powertrain and Royal Philips

Willem van den Corput

VP Engineering

Previous Senior Director Service, Support & Operations EMEA at Tesla. Experience at Royal Philps, Medtronics and Illumina.

Johan Vos

Commercial Director (CD)

Previous Executive Director of Procurement at Royal DSM. Experience at Volvo Car Corporation and VDL Nedcar

Hans Heijmans

Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Former IP Specialist at FEI Company. Wrote over one hundred of patents on high tech systems

Rik Slingerland

IP Manager

One of the first Lightyear employees. In her role, she supported Lightyear’s growth from 7 to 120+ employees

Maijke Receveur

Chief People Officer (CPO)

Part of the 2015 World Championship team at Solar Team Eindhoven. Msc in Industrial Design

Martijn Lammers

Chief Strategy — Co-founder

Part of first Solar Team Eindhoven as battery storage engineer

Qurein Biewenga

Co-founder

Part of the first Solar Team Eindhoven. Worked for Philips, ASML and led design collaboration with Granstudio

Koen van Ham

Chief Design — Co-founder

Our advisors provide valuable advice within their areas of expertise as well as helping to connect us to their network

Bob O'Connor — Partner at Wilson Sonsini
Camilla van den Boom — Strategy Director at Sturrm
Ton Backx — President Institute for Photonic Integration TU/e
Jelle Vastert — Former Director of Global EV Charging at Tesla
Lowie Vermeersch — Founder/Creative Director at Granstudio (Former Design Director Pininfarina)

Advisors

At the center of
‍‍High tech innovation

Innovation is part of Lightyear's DNA. We are located at the Automotive Campus in Helmond - part of Brainport: the heart of Europe’s innovation.

Lightyear
in numbers

2016
Founded in September
4
World Solar Championships
14
Nationalities
125
Employees
32
Patents filed to date
3.3 billion
Media coverage (global reach)

For the development, production, assembly and testing of our products we work together with highly specialised and leading partners from the automotive industry. Lightyear will set up her own network for the delivery and service of her vehicles and works with different commercial partners in order to make sure you can share or lease a Lightyear vehicle everywhere. Other partners provide valuable legal, HR, IT and organisational advice, supporting the growth of our company.

Deloitte
Building high-performance teams & organisation. Buy-in B2B platform
‍
Granstudio — Styling
Italian design studio led by Lowie Vermeersch (ex Pininfarina Chief Design)
‍
CSi — Structural engineering
German engineering company
‍
FEV
German engineering consultancy provides world class engineering services
‍
LeasePlan — Lease partner
Provides extensive B2B network and market insights
‍
EP&C — Patent attorneys
High-tech industry specialists updating & maintaining our patent portfolio

Partners

Milestones

Lightyear was accepted by the Solar Impulse Foundation to receive the Solar Impulse Label.

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January 23, 2020

Solar Impulse Label for Lightyear One

Lightyear is granted a €2.5M European subsidy

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December 31, 2019

Horizon 2020 Programme Grant

Lightyear One has been acknowledged as one of the 100 inventions of 2019 TIME magazine!

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November 21, 2019

TIME Best Inventions 2019

Deloitte buys 1 million sustainable car kilometres as part of their lease fleet.

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September 19, 2019

Lightyear Partners with Deloitte.

Lightyear was named the best startup of 2019 in the Netherlands on LinkedIn.

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September 6, 2019

LinkedIn Dutch Top Start-up 2019

The prototype of Lightyear One is presented at an unveiling for a live audience.

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June 26, 2019

Lightyear One Prototype Unveiling

After months of preparation, the private Design Unveiling gives a first look at a life-size model of Lightyear One.

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September 1, 2018

Design Unveiling of Lightyear One

Lightyear wins a Climate Change Innovator Award at CES in Las Vegas.

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July 11, 2018

CES Climate Change Innovator Awards

Lightyear officially announces plans to the public, immediately gathering attention from across the world.

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October 2, 2017

Lightyear meets the public

Lightyear is named a finalist in the Postcode Lottery Green Challenge.

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July 12, 2017

Postcode Loterij Green Challenge Finalist

The Lightyear founders opened an office in Eindhoven to attract investors and team members.

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January 9, 2016

Lightyear is founded

Second Solar Team achieves unprecedented 1500-kilometer journey on single charge and second World Solar Challenge Title.

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January 2, 2015

Stella Lux is created

Stella wins Crunchie for Best Technology Achievement at TechCrunch. The solar car beats Apple, SpaceX and Blockchain.

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January 1, 2015

Stella wins a Crunchie

The world’s first solar-powered family car designed by students of Solar Team Eindhoven wins World Solar Challenge.

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January 1, 2013

Stella wins 1st Bridgestone World Solar Challenge

Invest — Become an ambassador

Join us in our mission towards clean mobility and be part of the future.

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This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 848620